Positively Flying (forthcoming 2020-21) builds on our successful book ‘Positive Images – Positive Effect, activities for young people with positive results (Paul Lee & Louise Bishop 2008) which was reviewed recently by the journal of Centre for the Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection, based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, ‘Scottish Journal of Residential Care (Aileen Nicol, Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care 2016 – Vol.15, No.2).
“The book is aimed at adults working in a voluntary or professional capacity with young people either indoors or outdoors. In the writer’s view it also offers an excellent handbook of ideas for foster carers, adoptive parents and all those leading teams. As a youth group leader for over twenty years and a social worker involved with young people and groups for another twenty, this book offers new ideas as well as old favourites with a contemporary make-over.”
The book review by Aileen Nicol goes on to say;
“Predominant in the book is the emphasis on the positive effects of fun, laughter, encouragement and celebration of participation. The authors’ passion to include and affirm children and young people who are often excluded and stigmatised and whose needs and capacities can be misunderstood resonates throughout this comprehensive and compassionate book.”
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (16 December 1991) puts the welfare of children at its heart, with an emphasis to prepare and support children’s personal, social, academic education to be the best they can be, to become participating and active citizens making a positive contribution to their nation country.
To many children fall well below this threshold, Children supported by premium payments in England and Wales; Children with special educational needs in Scotland; Children whose childhood is restricted through responsibility for a parent or sibling with a high level of care and needs; children who are labelled because of their difficulties to fit into the educational process; children who fall victim to more powerful people bullies, abusive adults; Children whose home language is not the first laugange of our contry, children who are stigmatised because of race, gender, their personal image or because we gave them refuge from vilolence, oppression or danger in their own country. Finally, children in the care of the state deserve better, the prognoiss if taken into ‘care’ is not a happy one, ‘rescued’ from failings at home only to be failed by the state poor to say the least.
Beyond the idea that children have rights we should be preparing children for their future, to support their aspirations, the encourage their dreams, to ensure they can be the best they can by or want to be, ‘Positively Flying’.
The book ‘Positively Flying’ will take the best of the experience of using the creative thinking and problems solving activities facilitated in schools throughout Scotland and Northern England.
Our intention is to provide a handbook for professionals to improve children’s self-confidence, self-esteem, self-worth, resilience and self-efficacy.
About Me
I have spent over 40 years working as an educator, facilitator, outdoor activity instructor and training consultant in the field of experiential learning. My motivation is to help all young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to thrive and to reach their true potential. To be the best they can or want to be. Over my career I have worked with some of the country’s most challenging children and young adults both in an educational setting and alternatives to education. I have written for Scottish Journal of Residential Child Care.
Paul was appointed ‘Experiential Learning and Development Consultant’ to Who Cares? Scotland in 2020. Paul is now retired and no longer provides any services or training.
About My Work
I am the founder of Positive Images – Positive Effect, now ‘Positively Flying’ and I design, deliver and run all training programmes. I am also a writer of experiential learning activity books, packages, tools and techniques. All of the tools, activities and approaches are designed to help vulnerable, disengaged young people find a constructive way to express difficult feelings and overcome the problems and challenges they face.
I have a wide range of experience in education, youth work and graduate training alongside corporate and not for profit companies. I have worked with Outward Bound Tywyn, The Princes Trust, Fairbridge, Weston Sprit and acted as a training consultant and facilitator for many well-known companies including B.T, Magnet, Yorshire Water, GEC, Power Gen, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Careers Scotland, Lifeskills Centres, Local Government and the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Contact Paul
Email (Preffered): info@positivelyflying.com
Skype: alan@reasonstosmile.uk